Trailer hitch



2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EYS o. E.-LE|Nr-:s

TRAILER 'BITCH' Filed Nov. 16', 1957 June 21, 1938.

June 2l, 1938. o. E. LElNl-:s

TRAILER HITCH Filed Nov. 16, 1937 2 Smets-sheet 2 l u 7A- lr. 'a

Bv mymf@ ATTORNEYS Patented June 21, 193s anims @tto Emil Kleines, hle

" `law, Saskatchewan,

,Application November i6, i937, Serial No. lldl 2 mim- The inventionrelates to vehicular steering mechanism and more particularly to trailerhitches for trailer vehicles.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a hitch of thischaracter, wherein the trailer vehicle will be automatically steered soas to follow the towing vehicle and overcomes the sway now prevalent intrailers, the hitch being of novel construction and assures steadycondima tions to the trailing vehicle in the use thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hitch of thischaracter, wherein the construction thereof is novel in its entirety andassures the positive steering or guiding of the trailing vehiclewhen'being towed following directly the combination and arrangement ofparts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which disclose the pre ferred embodiment of theinvention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view showing a portion of the towing vehicle anda trailer with the hitch constructed in accordance with the invention,applied.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of .Figure l lookingin the direction of the arrows. v

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view oi' adjuncts of thehitch.

Figure t is a sectional view on the line i-d oi Figure 3.

lFigure 5 is a sectional Figure 2.

Similar reference characters indicate corre spending parts throughoutthe several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally a portion ofa towing vehicle and B a portion of the trailer or drawn vehicle,respec- .I tively. The towing vehicle 'as usual involves a chassis, aportion being indicated at it, having in association the rear springsil, rear axle housing l2 and rear driving or traction wheels it,respectively. The trailer or drawn vehicle involves a front axle beam i4having in association the iront ceived in pivot ears 2d view on the uneaL-trof steeringwheels it, these being turned through the medium ofturning knuckles it, their turning arms il are pivotally joined with asteering tie rod it for a unity of actionl with each other,

Secured to the rear end of the chassis it at the longitudinal center ofthe latter is a bracket including a pair of spaced L irons i9 by andbetween which is swingingly supported for vertical movement a couplingbox it, being pivoted at 2i for vertical swinging movement whileswiveled centrally to this box at t2 is a substantially U-shaped draftvyoke it adapted for lateral rocking or swinging movement while carriedinto the said yoke is a substantially V-shaped draw iframev it. its sidearms 25 being formed with eye terminals 2t accommodating pivots il whichare reoi a pair of axle clips 29, these being clamped to the axle it ofthe trailer or drawn vehicle B, preferably close to the turning knucklesit. Y v

The trarne Eil has formed therewith at its arms it cross braces tt towhich is fastened a shait bearing di accommodating 'a rotatable shaft 32provided with a pinion t3 meshing with a gear it having its center arborit xed the yoke 23 and also passed through a cross web it formed in theframe 2t. The gear it has provided on one face thereof locking ribs il`engageable with one side ofthe yoke 23 so that on the angular throwfrom the line ofl draft of the said yoke it by. the towing vehicle A thegear td is rcaused to turn or rotate and through the pinion t@ the shaft32 simultaneously rotates therewith.

Fixed to theaxle it of the mailer or drawn vehicle B centrally thereofisa shaft bearing @d in which is journaled a rotatable shaft t@ havinguniversal ioint connection d@ with the shaft 32 forwardly with the axleit while rearwardly of the said axle and vfixed to the shalt it is athrow stem ti having threaded thereon for adjustment a liriirv dipivotally connected at it to a drag link y de, which is also pivoted atit to an extension tt of one arm il of a turn knuckle it.

When the tow vehicle A dlverts from a straight line of draft or makes aturn through the hitch before described, the trailer or drawn vehicle B`will be automatically steered 'following the direction of travel of thetow vehicle and in this man;

ner the trailer is prevented Afrom sway and assured of steadiness andautomatic steering, being required to' follow the direction of travel ofthe towing vehicle and stability of the trailer is had. It is to beunderstood. that a suitable dust cup (not shown) can be applied to thedraft yoke 2t so that dust will be excluded in the working of such yokeand also the gearing 33 and 3Q can be protected by a. suitable housingor dustproof cover. Furthermore, a grease cup (not shown) can beassociated with the hitch for the deposit of grease at the point wherethe two gears 33 and 3d mesh. Q

What is claimed is:

1. A hitch for tow and trailer vehicles, the former having a chassisframe and the latter having a front axle, steering' wheels and turningknuckle connections between the same comprising a coupling boxvertically swingable on the chassis frame, a draft yoke swiveled in saidcoupling box, a gear having a seat for accommodating a portion of saidyoke and holding the gear fixed within the latter, a draft frameattached for vertical swinging movement to the front axle and receivedin said yoke above said gear, a pin engaging the yoke, draft frame andgear and swingingly connecting the said draft frame and yoke with eachother, a tie rod pivotally connecting the turning knuckles, a drag linkassociated with one of said knuckles, driven connections between thegear and the drag link and supported by said draft frame and front axle,respectively, and having a pinion meshing with said gear, and auniversal joint between the said draft frame and the front axle.

2. A hitch for tow and trailer vehicles, the former having a. chassisframe and the latter having a front axle, steering wheels and turningknuckle connections between the same comprising a coupling boxvertically swingable on the chassis frame, a draft yoke swiveled in saidcoupling box, a gear having a seat for accommodating a portion of saidyoke and holding the gear xed within the latter, a draft frame at-vtached for vertical swinging movement to the iront axle and received insaid yoke above said gear, a pin engaging the' yoke, draft frame andgear and swingingly connecting the said draft frame and yoke with eachother, a tie rod pivotally connecting the turning knuckles, a drag linkassociated with one of said knuckles, driven connections between thegear and the drag link and supported by said draft frame and front axle,respectively, and having a pinion meshing with said gear, a universaljoint between the said draft frame and the front axle, a throw stemassociated with said connections, and a link adjustably fitting the saidstem and pivoted to the drag link.

OTTO E. LEINES.

